THL2024 Saint Series: True JOY

In a world that sometimes seems upside down, and fake beauty, goodness and even joy are pushed, it is good to discover (or rediscover) who is the source of true beauty, true goodness, and true joy. When our society is on trial, we need to know how to answer the question, not "What is truth?" (John 18:38), but "Who is truth?"

There are many 'pearls of wisdom' in "Confessions" as St. Augustine compares the sinful pleasures of his youth (such as stealing pears) to the real joy in his mother's (St. Monica's) heart when they discuss the path to Truth. St. Augustine doesn't bury the punch line. It comes in the first two paragraphs:

Great art thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and of Thy wisdom there is no number. And man desires to praise Thee… Thou dost so excite him that to praise Thee is his joy. For Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee."Confessions by Augustine, Peter Brown, et al."

JOY = Jesus, Others, You. If you use 'joy' as a keyword search in "Confessions," 'joy,' 'joyful,' 'enjoy,' etc. are found over 150 times! That's right – joy is found in confession… even if we made mistakes, were misled in our youth or sinned yesterday.

For there is a joy which is not given to the ungodly but only to those who love Thee for Thy own sake, whose joy is Thyself. And this is happiness, to be joyful in Thee and for Thee and because of Thee, this and no other. Those who think happiness is any other, pursue a joy that is apart from Thee and is no true joy. "Confessions by Augustine, Peter Brown, et al."

"Confessions" is not an easy read, but it is a worthwhile read; Christians and non-Christians alike may relate to the experiences of Augustine and Monica. One unexpected discovery in Book 9, Chapter VIII-IX was learning more about how Monica dealt with stubborn, difficult, and sometimes abusive people. In Chapters X-XIII, Augustine describes his mother's death and provides some of the most articulate reasoning for Mass intentions and prayers for our loved ones who have passed.

If "Confessions" seems to be a bit too much to tackle, the short but powerful "Complete My Joy" by Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted is a good read. There is also much wisdom in the recently published book, "Bishop Olmsted on Life, Faith, and Leadership."

In many ways, the darker things are, the more the light stands out apart from that. So, the witness of a couple that is really living their Faith, the joy of embracing those sacrifices and loving one another and loving their children, it impacts a lot of people when it's really lived. So, there's great hope in it. (para. 222) "Bishop Olmsted on Life Faith, and Leadership."

With the lay Catholic St. Monica (whose feast day is August 27th) and her son, Bishop St. Augustine (whose feast day is August 28th), let us pray:

St. Monica, prayerful wife and mother, many sorrows grieved your heart throughout your life, yet you never gave in to despair or lost hope. With unwavering persistence and steadfast faith, you prayed fervently for the conversion of your troubled husband and your beloved son, Augustine. God answered your tearful prayers. Grant us that same enduring patience and trust in the Lord. St. Monica and St. Augustine pray that God may listen to the cries of our hearts and grant us the grace to embrace His Will for our country. All glory be to our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen (THL2024 Saints Series is sponsored by our friends at Catholic Prayer Cards.)

Through the intercessory prayers of St. Monica and St. Augustine, may The Hour of the Laity Conference (THL2024): Lumen Gentium (November 7-9th at Christ Cathedral, Orange County, CA) be successful. The conference is a national gathering for all lay Catholics who seek to grow in positive, healthy values grounded in Truth and Faith. It provides Catholic leadership formation to strengthen and prepare the laity to become ambassadors of Christ in our day-to-day lives and the secular world. The experts, panelists, and keynotes are lay people who positively impact society and are sound examples of authentic lay Catholic leadership.

At THL2024, we aim to increase faith by encouraging, enlightening and enabling lay Catholic leaders to bring Christ's light to families, businesses and professional settings. We pray for continued growth in holiness and success in business ventures for all who attend!

Click to attend THL2024!